Texas Border Business
A recent study by CommercialCafe.com, a commercial real estate blog, has ranked McAllen eighth in the top 10 Texas cities for mixing work from office (WFO) and work from home(WFH). In fact, McAllen’s top four statistics for WFO rankings are top three in the state of Texas. After the pandemic, Texas emerged as an ideal destination for remote workers, thanks to its attractive lifestyle and affordability.
To determine which Texas cities best meet the needs of households managing various work styles, CommercialCafe.com created a ranking system that evaluated each city’s capacity for both remote work and in-office support. Cities with populations over 100,000 were scored out of 50 points in both categories, then combined to provide a clear picture of the locations best equipped to support professionals across these work environments.
Some of the highlights of McAllen’s work from office environment include its $1 public transit fare, which is the lowest public transit fare in Texas a benefit further enhanced by Metro McAllen’s recent announcement to expand new routes and operating hours. Additionally, McAllen came in third at 85.5% for the share of on-site workers category (methodology categories listed below). McAllen also ranked second for housing affordability, making it an attractive option for professionals who prefer to live close to their workplace. Finally, in this study, McAllen has the third-lowest commuting time among the cities in the top 10, with only 22.7 minutes. McAllen’s affordability and efficient commute times make it a prime destination for professionals in industries like health care, education and logistics
Conversely, McAllen faces challenges in positioning itself as a remote work from home hub, given its economy’s strong emphasis on in-person industries such as healthcare, which employs nearly 20% of the local workforce. This reliance on physical presence is reflected in the city’s ranking10th spot for coworking space density and remote-friendly businesses, making it less appealing for professionals seeking flexible work-from-home options. Moreover, smaller apartment sizes and a limited remote worker population contribute to McAllen’s identity as a more traditional, office-centered city.
“We’re honored that McAllen is recognized among Texas cities excelling in supporting both office-based and remote work. Our city’s affordability, efficient transit options, and short commute times make it an attractive place for professionals who value balance and quality of life,” said McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos.
“While McAllen has strong roots in essential in-person industries like healthcare, we’re also committed to evolving with workforce trends to make our city even more adaptable for all types of professionals. This ranking highlights our city’s strengths and continued efforts to meet the needs of today’s workforce,” added Villalobos.
Other websites have recently ranked McAllen as number one in Texas for cost of living and number four for the middle class.
The analysis included 28 cities across Texas with at least 100,000 residents and complete data across all metrics. Scores were awarded in the two separate categories of WFO and WFH.
Work from office score metrics included share of on-site workers; housing value to household income ratio; quality office space (Class A/A+); mixed-use office buildings; office parking availability; commute time; average public transit fare; city amenities & establishments; and unemployment rate.
Work from home score metrics included share of remote workers; rent as percentage of household income; average apartment size; coworking density; high-speed internet coverage; free Wi-Fi hotspot density; park density; remote work-friendly businesses; and unemployment rate.
Follow the link to see the study: Best of Both Worlds: Top Texas Cities for Mixing WFH & WFO (commercialcafe.com)
